A cool night breeze brushed against the skin.
Chen Zhen folded his arms and gazed at the star-studded sky; rumors said that every star represented the kingdom of a god.
They resided high within the Astral Plane.
As a demon whose past self originated from the Abyss, Chen Zhen firmly believed in this rumor.
There was no going back to the Abyss, and even if he could, he didn't want to; it was simply the worst place in the world.
Chaos and slaughter permeated everything, where arrogant Demon Lords wantonly commanded lower demons to their deaths. Staying in that place for long made it easy to drift toward destruction.
Occasional killing could spice up life, but it wasn't everything. As a Zen-like demon, he understood this deeply.
If it weren't for a lack of security and not having earned enough strength for retirement, he would never engage in dangerous demonic contracts!
One must know, he was risking being defrauded by those evil, mad mages just to help pure souls on the verge of turning toward evil and depravity!
There wasn't a second demon as righteous and kind as him in the entire Abyss!
"Is it over?"
Chen Zhen snapped out of his reflections on his own righteousness and kindness upon hearing footsteps approaching his ear.
"Mm."
Ice Moon nodded nervously. She had already said goodbye to her kin, and her fate was already sealed. Her kin wanted to save her, but they lacked the strength.
The scene of the demon killing all the bandits just now was deeply etched into everyone's minds.
In a deal with a demon, having one's soul devoured was the price!
"Mr. Demon, according to our agreement, please take my soul!"
Looking at this pure soul that had failed to turn toward evil, Chen Zhen was very satisfied. However, he turned around and stared at her in confusion.
"Soul? Did you sign the contract without reading the contents carefully?"
Chen Zhen flicked his finger, a flame ignited, and a piece of parchment landed in his hand. He held it before Ice Moon and said, "According to the contract, you are to be my wife, bear my children, and live a happy married life with me!"
"It's mutual consent, in black and white; I didn't defraud you!"
He had specifically responded to the transactions of nearby beings just so he could marry a wife.
"Ah? What? Wife... bear children?"
Ice Moon's head was buzzing, her eyes blinked hard, and her face grew redder and redder.
Shouldn't this be a hero-and-princess plot? A demon or whatever... it's too strange... no...
Why was she blushing?
This should be a terrifying matter.
Just as she was thinking, an arm wrapped around her waist, gently pulling her into an embrace. Next, she felt herself flying, moving further and further from the ground... Just like that, in a daze, she was brought into a demon's cave.
"This place is too crude. Adjust for tonight, and tomorrow I will build a small house and courtyard."
Chen Zhen spoke softly, his mind already planning for tomorrow.
What kind of courtyard and house should he build?
Hmm... He rummaged through the tools in the cave, pulling out a large pile of tools for polishing wood and stone, as well as tools for reclaiming farmland and some fruit and vegetable seeds.
He had many miscellaneous things here. When his demon companions occasionally discovered them, they all said he was a bizarre demon.
But they didn't understand; these things full of the flavor of life were the true essence of living.
It was his first time being a demon and his first time being a husband. He was inexperienced, but he worked hard, and finally—jie jie jie—he had successfully found a wife!
"Oh right, after experiencing so many scares, you must be tired. Take a hot bath in a bit and go to sleep."
Chen Zhen looked tenderly at the dazed Ice Wolf Girl. Her pure white clothes were still covered in bloodstains, which pained him slightly.
He brought out a large iron pot, placed it on a built stove, and poured in water from several large wooden buckets.
Then he stuffed a pile of dry wood inside, a wisp of flame appearing at his fingertip to light it. He muttered, "I should find some laborers; tomorrow I'll go catch a few green-skinned idiots!"
These were all tools he had personally made when he was bored—except for that large iron pot, which he had scavenged from the remains of some adventurer.
"This..."
Ice Moon watched the busy demon before her, doubting her own eyes. The demon in front of her didn't seem like a demon, but more like a human.
Chen Zhen hurried out and found some fresh, soft grass leaves from outside to spread on the wooden bed, then decorated the bedside with some colorful flowers.
This would have to do for one night!
After all, this place was far from human towns; it was simply too crude!
After a while, the hot water boiled. Chen Zhen poured it into a wooden bathtub, sprinkled some fresh flower petals, and exhaled.
"Finally..."
He looked at Ice Moon.
Ice Moon lowered her head shyly, hesitated for a moment, and seemed to accept everything before her.
Fair fingers were placed gently on the buttons of her clothes, undressing as bright as the moon.
Gently picking her up and placing her into the bathtub with the water at just the right temperature, Chen Zhen felt a surge of comfort in his heart.
Sorry, everyone!
He already had this wife who was more fragrant and beautiful than any 2D character. He threw the blood-stained and dusty pure white dress into a wooden bucket.
After Chen Zhen washed it clean, he dried it with fire and set it aside.
He had to find a way to go to human towns to trade for some things. Unfortunately, his appearance was easily misunderstood as an evil existence.
'Right, Verelia...'
Chen Zhen thought of this demon companion. As a Succubus, she leaned more toward a human appearance, and she could also cast spells to completely transform into a human look.
He could ask her for help.
That cold fellow probably wouldn't refuse such a small matter. They were all poor demons stranded in Auri; they should help each other.
Coming back to his senses, he looked at Ice Moon, who had only her small head peeking out of the water. His demon eyes revealed a hint of tenderness.
"How... should I address you..."
Ice Moon spoke cautiously.
"Call me Morag, or Chen Zhen is fine too; that's my human name."
Chen Zhen said softly.
"Morag, Chen Zhen..."
Ice Moon felt the second name was very strange, the first time she had seen such a name, but she clearly felt that he preferred the second one.
"Or 'Husband' is also fine."
Chen Zhen smiled, looking somewhat ferocious.
"..."
Ice Moon's face turned red, knowing that meant 'husband.' To actually be liked by a demon was simply... unimaginable.
Most girls in the village married at eighteen or nineteen, and she was actually around that age, but she had never had someone she liked.
Today... she was somewhat attracted by the mysterious demon before her. Demons didn't seem as terrifying as the rumors said; they just looked a bit scary.
He could be gentle and also care about a person's emotions...